Abstract: A control for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine reduces exhaust emissions and prevents catalytic converter damage due to detected cylinder misfiring. The engine cylinders are individually monitored for misfiring, and when misfiring is detected in a given cylinder, fueling for that cylinder is suspended and the intake and exhaust valves for that cylinder are maintained closed to trap the unburned air/fuel charge for a predetermined number of engine cycles or until the mixture is ignited. If several successive air/fuel charges in a given cylinder fail to ignite using this procedure, the intake and exhaust valves for that cylinder are maintained closed to disable the cylinder until the engine can be serviced.